Method of producing an atomized alloy power

Abstract

Alloy powder which is low in price and is unlikely to be oxidized on the surface, and a dispersion-type conductor using the alloy powder in which electromigration is not likely to occur. Melt of copper and silver is cooled at a high cooling speed of 10 5 °C./s or higher. Alloy powder having a composition expressed by a chemical formula Cu x Ag 1-x (where 0.80≦×≦0.99) is obtained. Also, a dispersion-type conductor is produced by dispersing 100 parts by weight of the alloy powder in between 5-100 parts by weight of a binder. Thus, the low-priced alloy powder and the dispersion-type conductor of high quality and high reliability can be obtained.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of producing an atomized alloy powder having a homogeneous single-phase solid solution structure in which copper (Cu) is supersaturated with silver (Ag) dissolved therein, wherein the atomized alloy powder has a composition expressed by a chemical formula Cu x  Ag 1-x , where 0.8≦×<0.95, the method comprising the steps of: discharging, from a nozzle, a molten alloy consisting essentially of Cu and Ag, wherein Cu comprises 70 to 95% by weight of the molten alloy;   atomizing the molten alloy by means of a high-pressure gas jetted from a gas nozzle disposed under the nozzle, thereby forming liquid droplets of the alloy; and   quenching the liquid droplets of alloy by causing the liquid droplets to collide with a rotating cooling member disposed under the gas nozzle so as to quickly cool the droplets at a cooling rate equal to or greater than 10 5  °C./sec, thereby solidifying and flattening the alloy.